Combination inhaler



Aug. 21, 1923.

R. A. RICE COMBINATION INHALER Filed Dec. 17. 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 1gnuzntoz Patented Aug. 21, 1923..

UNHTEB STATES RAY A. RICE, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO. I

coranm'a'rrort mnntnn.

Application filed December 17, 1919. Serial No. aaaeoe.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that RAY A. RICE, a citizen of the United States, residingat Columbus, in the county of Franklinand State of Ohio, has inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Combination Inhalers, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved inhaler or mask adapted for thepurpose of facilitating the administering of an anesthetic, said inhalerbeing so constructed as to embody features whichwill serve to render thesame adaptable to the various ap proved methods of imparting ananesthetic.

Among other features, the invention consists of an inhaler which isformed to embody a two-part casing whose sections are capable of beingassembled or separated by a medial joint, the lower of said sectionsbeing constructed to receive a foramina-ted vaporizing body upon whichan anesthetic may be suitably deposited and vaporized for inhalation bya patient, and to provide means in conjunction with said lower sectionwhereby graduated quantities of oxygen may be introduced into vaporizingrelationship with the anesthetizing base which is employed and also tocontrol the breath ing supply of air to be used by the patient.

Another object of the invention resides in so constructing the inhaleras to permit the same to be used in effecting the administrationsincidental to the so called semi-open drop method, and to provide animproved I holder for the ether in conjunction with the upper section ofsaid casing, said holder embodying a valve structure which may beoperated to readily control the amount of ether, or other agent,delivered into the casin and further, to swivelly mount said contalnerso that the latter may be adjusted angularly with respect to the planeof operation of the casing so that a complete flow of ether through thecontainer will be insured ir'res ective of the positions of operationwhich the casing may occupy, and also to provide for the dropping ofether upon such portions of the foraminated body as to insure thecomplete vaporizin ofsuch ether. A further object of the invention restsin the provision of an air regulating device upon the upper section ofthe casing, which. device may be so actuated as to perm1t of a flow orcirculation of air through the interior of the casing, and which whenopenv may be also usefully employed in administering ethyl chloride in amanner independent of the ether container.

Other objects of the invention reside in providing means in conjunctionwith the lower section of the casing for permitting of the employment ofthe so called closed rebreathing method of administering anesthetics, ina valve structure for controlling the administering of stored oxygeninto the container, and in surrounding the lower marginal edges of thelatter section with an improved pneumatic cushion which is adapted torest upon the face of a patient and is of such construction as to enablethe weight of the inhaler to be easily carried.

With these and other objects in View, as will appear as the descriptionproceeds, the invention accordingly consists in the novel features ofconstruction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts,hereinafter to be fully described and to have the scope thereof pointedout in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andin which similar characters of. reference denote like and correspondingparts:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the anesthetic administering inhalercomprising the present invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a top plan view.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view.

Figure 5 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken through theinhaler.

Figure 6 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken along the planedisclosed by the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a detailed vertical sectional view taken through the ethercontainer and showing more particularly its adjustable mounting on thecasing.

Fi ure 8 is a detailed view showing the inhal er asemployed inconnection with the closed re-breathing method, and,

Figure 9 is a detailed view showing the adjustment for the expiratoryvalves.

Referring more particularly to the structural details of the inhalercomprising what is now believed-to be the preferred form of the presentinvention, use is made of a casing or housin 1, which is preferably ofmetallic construction and is substantially open in cross sectionalformation. This casing has been exemplified as consisting of a pluralityof separable sections, the upper of which being designated by thenumeral 2, while the lower section has been indicated by the character3. The lower end of the casing is open, as shown in Figure 5 while thetop-thereof is formed with a wall 4. The casing itself is 'of such formas to be capableof surrounding the respiratory organs of the human face,and to prevent the casing from causing discomfort to the patient, whenin actual use, the lower marginal portion of the section 3 is providedwith an offset flange 5. To this flange there is detachably connected apneumatic cushion 6, which is preferably formed from soft pliable rubberand is capable of being inflated by means of the tubular extension 7 inorder that the weight of the casing may be cushioned to the greatestpossible ex tent. The cushion itself is provided with an offset portion8 which may be so stretched as to engage with the flange 5 and in thisman ner will serve to prevent accidental displacement of the cushion.The upper marginal portion of the lower section 3 is inwardly bent as at9 to produce a shoulder 10, upon which rests the lower edge of the uppersection 2. It has been found that under ordinary conditions, the naturalfriction between the walls of said sections is suflicient to retain thesections in assembled relation without the emplo ment of additionalfastening means, and urthermore, the construction shown permits of theconvenient separation of the sections. This factor of separation on thepart of the sections of the casing is of considerable importance incarrying out the features of the present invention, in that by soconstructing the parts, the inhaler is adapted to the different approvedmethods now in vogue for administering an anesthetic.

Secured to the flange 5 is an inwardly extending bafile plate 11, whichis positioned within the section 3 in spaced relationship from theinternal wall of the latter. Secured to the plate 11, or any otherconvenient part, is a crown shaped foraminated member 12, whichis-preferably formed of fine strands of woven wire, the lower edgeportion of the member 12 being situated between the plate 11 and theinternal wall of the section 3. The member 12 is adapted to supportseveral thicknesses of a fabric material 13 such for example as gauze,and it is upon this gauze that the ether or chloride is dropped andvaporized. It will be seen that through the provision of the oraminatedmember 12, a positive and substantial sup' ort will be pro vided for thegauze 13, an that the latter will be situated within the lower sectionof the casing in such a well distributed manner as to permit of completevaporization on the part of the anesthetic. Many ways of course, may beprovided for depositing the anesthetic upon the gauze 13. This may beaccomplished by means of the so called open drop method, which may beeffected by simply removing the upper section 2 and employing only thelower section of the casing. After the gauze has been situated in'itsproper position, the ethyl chloride or other may be suitably droppedthereon and vaporized. In view of the fact that the cushion member willprevent extraneous air from entering the section 3, it follows that thepatient will be obliged to secure his supply of oxygen by inhaling theetheric fumes which will arise by reason of the vaporization of theanesthetic upon the gauze. Obviously, the foraminated member 12 permitsof the free circulation of such fumes within the lower section. Further,by the provision of the baflie plate, the ether in-the liquid state willbe prevented from contacting with the patients face, inasmuch as theplate 11 is of such form as to provide a collecting medium for suchnon-vaporized ether. Also. by the provision of the member 12, the gauze13 may be renewed from time totime with ease and convenience, thustending to enhance the sanitary condition of the inhaler.

When the so called semi-open drop method is to be used, the uppersection of the casing is again assembled in the secured manner aboverecited upon the lower section so that the interior of the inhaler willbe substantially closed instead of being left open as is the case whenthe open drop method is used. The top wall 4 of the upper section isprovided with a pivoted valve plate 14 whose rotation is governable bymeans of an offset handle 15. This valve plate is provided with a pairof air ports 16 therein. which may be brought into or out ofregistration with similar ports provided in said top wall. Thus it willbe manifest that by rotating the plate 14, the degree of opening on thepart of the ports 16 may be readily governed so as to control theentrance of air into the inhaler. When the ports 16 are open, a tube ofethyl chloride may be so positioned as to discharge its contents uponthe gauze 13, without using, in the beginning of the process anydegree-of other. In other words. it has been found that the use of ethylchloride will facilitate the statejof coma on the part of the patientand will reduce to a marked extent the smothering sensation frequentlyexperienced by providing the upper section with an" ether container 17,which greatly facilitates the graduated dispensing of the ether andrenders the operation more susceptible to neeasie adjustment. Thiscontainer is formed to comprise a ball shaped base member 18 which isadapted to occupy an opening 19 formed in the top wall 4. The basememher is swivelly supported in conjunction with the wall 4 by providingthe latter with flange strips 20, which are of such form as to embracethe ball shaped periphery of the base member so that the latter may berocked in any desired direction yet without being permitted to becomedisengaged from its connection with the wall t The base member 18 ispreferably of hollow construction and is suitably connected at its up erend with a sleeve 21 in which is mounted a glass tube 22, said tubebeing normally disposed so as to cover sight openings 23 provided in thesleeve 21. Threadedly connected as at 24 with the upper end of thesleeve 21 is an ether cup 25, which is formed to include a centralhollow stem 26 which terminates in a restricted discharge nozzle 27, thelatter being directed downwardly and projects into the glass tube 22. Athreaded needle valve 28 is carried by the stem 26 and is adapted toproject into the nozzle 27, so as to control the passage of fluidtherethrough. The top 29 of the cup 25 is rovided with a fillingopening. 30 throng which ether may be poured into said cup, and thelevel of the liquid may be determined by means of the glass wall 31 ofthe cup. Openings 32 are provided transversely in the stem 26 and are solo cated as to permit the contents of the cup to be drained. Obviously,by raising and lowering the needle valve the flow of the ether from theinterior of the cu 25 and through the nozzle 27 may be care llycontrolled and graduated, and the dropsmay be retained,,counted andmeasured by observing the same through the sight openings 23 which areformed in the sleeve 21. The container 17 is of very simple constructionand yet completely obviates the prior cumbersome method of droppingthe'ether directly upon the gauze from a can or other receptacle, andnaturally means of the valve adjustment 28 the flow of the ether may bemore readily controlled than can be obtained by use of the old handmethod.

It frequently happens that a patient during the course of an operationwill be inclined with respect to the horizontal to as some the so calledtrinchlinberg position, and when this occurs, the casing 1 will assume aposition parallel with that of the patient. In order to prevent suchangularity on the part of the casing from interfering with the flow ofether, the container 17' is rendered adjustable by means of the ball andsocket construction of its base member 18, which may be so adjusted as,to-cause the container 17'to always maintain a true vertical positionirrespective of the positions which'the inhaler itself may occu y. It isof importancealso that when the inhaler is inclined, the ether depositedupon the gauze 13 should'be at the up er-most position of the latter, sothat the ct er will have an opportunity to flow downwardly through thegauze for purposes of complete vaporization. To accomplish this, thebase member 18 has its lower end equipped with a curved spout 33, whichmay be so adjusted that its discharge end may be properly ositioned withrespect to the gauze deposite upon the member 12, so that the ether willbe suitably directed in such manner upon the gauze that its completevaporization will be insured.

The lower section 3 is equipped at one s1de with a pet cock 34:, towhich a flexible tube may be connected which leads to a sultable oxygentank. Thus when the ports 16 are completely closed the supply of oxygenwhich a patient will obtain will be delivered completely by way of thepet cock 34. Also when this arrangement is utilized, the operation ofthe ether container 17 may be digpensed with, and the oxygen may because to pass throu h a receptacle containing a suitable quantity sothat the resultant etherized oxygen may be delivered to the patient.When the tank system is employed, the ports 16 are of course closed toprevent the entrance of air therethrough. Expiratory valves 35 aremounted in the upper section 2, and these valves simply consist of disks36, which are confined within perforated housings 37 located on oppositesides of the casin The disks are disposed so as to cover out at vents 38in the casin and are normally maintained in such relation by means ofplungers 39, which are slidably mounted in the housings 37 and arenormally urged against the'disks 36, so as to cause the latter to closethe vents 38, by means of coil springs 40. The exteiit of opening on thepart of the disks 36 may be controlled by providing the outer ends ofthe plung'ers with cross ins 41, which, as shown in Figure 9, may ereceived within deep sockets 42 formed in the outer ends-of the housings37. When in-this osition, the sprin arepermitted to press t e plunge'rsto sue extent that the disks will be kept in contact with the outer endsof the vents 38. A further adjustment is provided b forming the sockets42 with more shal ow depressions 43, which when the cross pins 41 aredeposited therein will hold the plungers in slightly spaced relationfrom the disks 36 so that a slight escape of air from the interior ofthe housing may be edected. And further, bydrawing the plungersoutwardly their extreme distance, the pins ma be caused to engage withthe outer perip eral edge portions of said housings, so that stillfurther movement on thepart of the disks may be provided. The lowersection is pro- Hit vided with one or more short pipe members 44, whichunder normal conditmns are closed by means of metallic caps 45, however,when the 'closed re-breathing method is employed, a rubber tube isconnected with one of said pipe members after its ca has been removed,

and this tube leads to t e ordinary rubber inflatable bag into which thebreath of the patient is discharged. Thus through the grovision of thevalve 34, oxygen may be elivered to the patient and this etherized oxyen may be re-breathed by the patient by t e provision of the inflatablebag. Also, through the provision of the expiratory valves, the breath ofthe patient may be finally discharged.

From the foregoing description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawin s, it will be apparent that there is rovi ed aninhaler particularly adapte to permit of the administration of ananesthetic in many of the approved methods. The inhaler in itself is ofsuch construction as to be quickly assembled or dis-assembled to ermitthe particular method to be used to be readily efi'ected by the use ofthe inhaler. The structure is composed of but few .and simple parts andthe element of disorder in its operation has been reduced to a minimum.Convenient control may be had on the art of any of its elements, andlikewise mmute adjustments may be properly effected. Also, the devicemay be kept in a thoroughly sanitary'condition, and by the provision ofthe cushioning means, the same ma be comfortably worn by a patient.

claim: a

An inhaler comprising a casing formed to embody upper and lowersections, a crown of forammated material rigidly positioned within saidlower section and capable of receiving an anesthetic absorbing fabric,valve means connected with said lower section andcapable of supplyingthe latter with a suitable quantity of etherized oxygen, a connectioncooperative with said lower section to'receive an inflatablere-breathing receptacle, and a plurality of expiratory valves carried 1nthe up er section of said casing.

In testimony w ereof I afiix my signature.

RAY A. RICE.

